Cascades East Ride Center (CERC) OHA / DHS MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM GUIDE Main number: (541) 385-8680 Toll free: 1 (866) 385-8680 TTY relay service: 711 or 1 (800) 735-2900 Fax: (541) 548-9548
Cascades East Ride Center (CERC) Cascades East Ride Center (CERC) is a program of Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council (COIC). COIC is under contract with the State of Oregon, Oregon Health Authority (OHA), to operate the Medical Transportation Program for eligible Department of Human Service (DHS) clients in the following counties: Crook Grant Baker Deschutes Harney Union Jefferson Malheur Wallowa COIC - 2 -
MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM GUIDE Table of Contents Introduction.................................. 4 Client Eligibility.............................. 4 Selecting of Medical Providers.................... 4 Scheduling a Ride............................ 5 When to Be Ready............................ 7 Cancellation and No-Show Policy................ 8 Service Hours................................ 9 Types of Transportation........................ 10 Service Description........................... 11 Personal Care Attendant........................ 12 Children.................................... 13 Wheelchair/Mobility Aids...................... 14 Safety Belts.................................. 15 Client Confidentiality.......................... 15 Client Feedback............................... 16-3 -
Introduction Cascades East Ride Center, also known as CERC, arranges non-emergent medical transportation for eligible Oregon Health Plan Plus (OHP Plus) clients traveling to covered medical services. Non-emergent Medical Transportation is provided to OHP Plus clients like you when you have no other way to get to medical services. Sometimes there may not be any provider that can provide a ride, so rides depend on a transportation provider being available. In order to ensure a ride is available for you, please call to schedule your ride as far in advance of your appointment as possible. Client Eligibility CERC is responsible for verifying your eligibility prior to providing services. This includes determining if you are in a managed care plan. CERC assumes full financial risk if they serve a person who is not confirmed by the Department of Human Services (DHS) as eligible for the service performed. There is no cost to you for authorized transportation services. Selection of Medical Providers To be eligible for Medical Transportation Program services you need to choose a medical care provider in - 4 -
your local area when one is available. Local area means "in or nearest" the city or town you live in. If a provider is not available in your city or town you can ask for a ride to the nearest location where the service can be found. You have the right to choose any medical care provider. However, if you choose a medical care provider outside of your local area, or not at the nearest location where providers are available, you are responsible for your own ride, this is not a covered service. Scheduling a Ride You can call to schedule your rides Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM. CERC is closed all major holidays. You should call to schedule your ride at least 2 business days in advance if possible. To schedule a ride call CERC at: Phone number (541) 385-8680 Toll Free Phone number 1(866) 385-8680 Oregon Relay Service 711 or 1 (800) 735-2900 A Customer Service Representative will verify your eligibility and will need the following information: Your name Your address Your phone number Physician/Facility name Physician/Facility address Physician/Facility phone number - 5 -
Date of appointment Time of appointment Pick-up Time after appointment Medical reason for appointment (to verify covered services) Any special mobility needs (such as a wheelchair or service animal) Any specific directions to your home or medical facility If you are calling to schedule a ride for your minor child, the customer service representative will also need to know your child s personal information and who will be the adult attendant for your child (please see the Children section). The customer service representative will verify that you are traveling to a covered OHP Plus service and have no other way to get to your appointment. The representative will then either authorize or deny the trip based on the information you provided. Same-day rides can be scheduled after verifying with your doctor or medical office that you must be seen that day. If you need to cancel a ride or change an appointment, you must call CERC as soon as possible so the transportation provider can be notified. You can call to cancel rides from Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM. You can also call anytime to leave a cancel - 6 -
message in the After Hours voice mail. Call the After Hours Line at the same number, press 9, and leave a complete message; be sure to spell the name of the scheduled rider, give the date and time of the ride, and a phone number in case more information is needed. You should not call transportation providers directly other than for a return ride pick up with your scheduled provider. All rides must be scheduled through your local Transportation Broker, Cascades East Ride Center. Call CERC if you have any questions or ride changes. If you are denied transportation service based on the OHP Plus program guidelines, you will receive a denial verbally and a letter that references the rule and reason for the denial. If you feel you have been denied nonemergent medical transportation services unfairly, you have the right to request a Fair Hearing. Fair Hearing information will be provided with your denial letter. CERC does not schedule ambulance transportation. If you have an emergency, call 911. For non-emergency ambulance services, you should contact your branch office. When to Be Ready You should be ready 15 minutes before your scheduled pickup time. - 7 -
Transportation providers should arrive within the 15 minutes before or after the scheduled pickup time, or within 90 minutes after a call to request a return ride. If this does not happen, you should call (541) 385-8680 or toll free 1(866) 385-8680. You must call CERC if you miss your scheduled ride. Do not call the transportation provider to reschedule a ride. If you are not ready for your ride when the transportation provider arrives, the provider will wait 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, the provider can go to the next destination and your trip will need to be rescheduled. Cancellation and No-Show Policy When you need to cancel a ride or your appointment time changes, you must call CERC as soon as possible. You can call to cancel rides Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM except major holidays. If you cannot call during the above hours you can call the After Hours Line at the same number, press 9, and leave a complete message; be sure to spell the name of the scheduled rider, give the date and time of the ride, and a phone number in case more information is needed. When you are not ready at the pickup time, or have not canceled the ride before the provider leaves to pick you up, the ride is considered a No-Show. Continual No- Shows may result in a specific transportation provider - 8 -
refusing to continue providing service, since transportation providers do not get paid for No-Show rides. Because of the limited number of transportation providers under contract with CERC, it is very important that you make every reasonable effort to avoid No-Shows and cancel unnecessary rides in advance. Failure to do so may limit available transportation resources, placing undue burdens on CERC and making transportation more difficult for all our clients. If you continually No-Show, then CERC may impose special conditions and reasonable restrictions on your future rides, including but not limited to: limiting the number of rides you can schedule at a time, limiting you to a specific provider, and requiring confirmation calls prior to each ride. Service Hours Non-Emergent Medical Transportation services may be provided 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. However, it may be difficult to arrange transportation that takes place after hours or on weekends or holidays, so please be sure to call as far ahead as possible during normal business hours to schedule rides that are necessary for these times. CERC Customer Service Representatives are available to set up new rides Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The Ride Center remains open to assist you with other needs until 6:00 PM. CERC is closed Saturday, Sunday, and the following major holidays: New Years Day; Memorial Day; Independence Day (July 4); Labor Day, Thanksgiving; and Christmas Day. - 9 -
If you have an urgent need for a ride when CERC is closed you can call the After Hours Line (same phone number) to check to see if a provider may be available in your area to provide you with a ride. Follow the instructions on the phone message to check if there is a provider in your area. After Hours Rides are limited in most areas and not available in others, scheduling in advance is always the best way to obtain a ride. If your need is an emergency call 911, CERC does not provide emergent transportation. If you need to cancel a ride when CERC is closed you can call the After Hours Line and press 9 to leave a message. Be sure to spell the name of the scheduled rider, give the date and time of the ride, and a phone number in case more information is needed. The message will be picked up at 6:00 AM the next work day. Types of Non-Emergent Medical Transportation Non-Emergent Medical Transportation is scheduled with the most appropriate and most cost-effective mode of transportation that meets your needs. Depending on your situation, this could be bus tickets, taxi cab, wheelchair van, stretcher van, or other types of transportation, as necessary. Rides may be shared. Other Clients may be picked up or dropped off along the way. - 10 -
When it is possible, you may be asked to try to schedule multiple appointments on the same day to avoid repeated trips. Service Description When authorized by CERC, Non-Emergent Medical transportation providers may come to the door of the home or the main entrance of the medical facility to let you know they are ready to transport you. Non-Emergent Medical Transportation providers may assist you into the main entrance lobbies of medical facilities, but will not assist you into medical rooms or other areas of the building. If you require further assistance, you will need to provide your own personal care attendant (please see Personal Care Attendant section). Non-Emergent Medical Transportation providers do not enter your room except for a hospital discharge or a stretcher car transport. Non-Emergent Medical Transportation providers do not help you get ready for transport (feeding, dressing, etc.). Non-Emergent Medical Transportation providers do not transfer you between bed and wheelchair, wheelchair and vehicle, etc. - 11 -
Non-Emergent Medical Transportation providers do not help you with any personal needs while you are being transported. If you will need help at the medical facility, help to eat, go to the rest room, etc, you will need to bring a care attendant to assist you with these personal tasks. Not all Non-Emergent Medical Transportation providers are able to help you up and down steps if you are in a wheelchair. If you use a wheelchair, please be sure to inform CERC of any steps you may have to go up or down in order to ensure you are scheduled with an appropriate provider. Non-Emergent Medical Transportation providers are prohibited from requesting or receiving fares or tips. Personal Care Attendant A personal care attendant must accompany you if you are unable to travel by yourself to your appointments. You are responsible for providing your own personal care attendant. One personal care attendant can travel with you at no cost. Additional riders may have to pay a fare or a shared ride cost. CERC only provides the transportation and is not responsible for wages, meals, or other costs associated with your personal care attendant. - 12 -
Children Children under age 12 must have one adult attendant with them at all times. The attendant may be the child s parent or legal guardian, an adult relative, an adult expressly identified in writing by the parent or legal guardian as an attendant, or a Department of Human Services (DHS) employee or volunteer. The adult attendant can go with the child at no cost. Children age 12 and over do not require an adult attendant for transportation. However, one adult attendant may still travel with children under age 18 at no cost. Remember, most medical procedures for children under 18 require adult consent and supervision. Transportation providers do not provide supervision for children sent for medical services without an attendant. The adult attendant must provide and install car seats that are necessary under current statewide vehicle regulations. Non-Emergent Medical Transportation providers do not provide or help clients to install or remove car seats. Car seats may not be left with Non-Emergent Medical Transportation providers during the child s appointment because the same provider will not necessarily provide the return ride. - 13 -
Wheelchair/Mobility Aids If you use a wheelchair, non-emergent medical transportation providers will assist you up and down curbs only if you ask. Not all Non-Emergent Medical Transportation providers are able to help you up and down steps if you are in a wheelchair. If you use a wheelchair, please be sure to inform CERC of any steps you may have to go up or down in order to ensure you are scheduled with an appropriate provider. If your wheelchair is oversized, you must tell CERC so the right vehicle can be sent. An oversized wheelchair is bigger than 30 inches wide, 48 inches long, or more than 600 pounds when occupied. If you use a scooter, you may be asked if you want to transfer into a vehicle seat for your own safety, but you are not required to do so. If your scooter does not have tie downs to secure it in the vehicle the provider is not required to transport you in your scooter. Mobility aids such as walkers or canes need to be safely stowed in the vehicle once you have been seated. The non-emergent medical transportation provider will help you secure your equipment if necessary. Portable oxygen tanks must be secured while being transported. - 14 -
Service animals trained to assist persons with disabilities are permitted on all CERC contracted vehicles. You must notify CERC in advance if you need to bring a service animal on the ride. This does not include a comfort pet. Safety Belts You and all passengers are required to comply with all regulations regarding safety belt use. Passengers who require safety belt extensions must notify CERC of this need when scheduling a ride. Passengers with the Oregon Department of Transportation safety belt exemption card must carry the card and show the card to the driver before every trip. Passengers using wheelchairs must use the lap and shoulder belt. Client Confidentiality Discussing or providing client information, except for normal business purposes, is strictly prohibited. - 15 -
Client Feedback Concerns and compliments can be made by calling CERC at: Phone number (541) 385-8680 Phone number Toll Free 1 (866) 385-8680 Oregon Relay Service 711 -or- 1 (800) 735-2900 Fax number (541) 548-9548 COIC 4/6/11 Revision OHA - 16 -